US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson on Thursday visited the Jalozai camp complex in Nowshera district where 120,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently receiving humanitarian relief from the United States channelled through both the Government of Pakistan and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
During her visit, Ambassador Patterson handed over the first of 22,000 plastic jerry cans and 5,000 school kits for the camp's internally displaced families. She also met with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officials, camp administrators, volunteers and displaced families.
The envoy spoke with camp residents at health clinics, school classrooms, and at a water purification site located on the camp grounds. Jalozai camp complex is one of the largest, oldest, and most diverse of all camps in Pakistan. Camp residents hail from Bajaur, Swat Valley, Mohmand, and other areas of conflict in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
"The people of the United States have seen the plight of Pakistan's internally displaced and are committed to providing relief and aid," said Ambassador Patterson. "Our hearts go out to those who continue to endure hardships while we pray that they will be able to return to their homes as soon as possible," said Ambassador Patterson.
Currently, the United States supports a number of humanitarian relief efforts in Jalozai camps I, II, and II including health, water purification, sanitation and hygiene, food and non-food commodities, and education. The US previously provided air-conditioned tents for those suffering from heat exhaustion and other medical conditions.
On May 19, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton committed $110 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to assist IDPs. This includes approximately $28 million in agricultural commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat valued at $16.8 million and 6,800 metric tons of vegetable oil valued at $11.2 million.
In early June, the US government announced an additional $200 million in urgent humanitarian assistance to aid displaced persons in the NWFP. Since 2002, the United States has provided nearly $3.4 billion to Pakistan to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance and to assist with earthquake reconstruction.
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